Difference in index refraction

edmondng

What does a higher index of refraction really mean? I know about speed wavelength etc but lets say you have 2 different material to choose and ignoring other variables, and focal length, diameter are all the same between both material, would you choose a lower index refraction or higher.

Thanks

NoTime

One thing is that the curvature of the lens will be different.
This may or may not be important to you.
For multi element lenses I think they use different materials to correct for chromatic aberration in the final result.
Other than that no idea.

n0_3sc

Depends on the application and what "material" we're talking about.
Eg. With lenses, they are graded index (which corrects for aberration) which on average has a low refractive index. Lenses that do not automatically correct for chromatic aberration may have a lower or higher index.

Redbelly98

A higher-index lens will require less curvature to give the same focal length as a lower-index lens. Spherical aberrations will be less severe owing to the reduced curvature.